Highway 61 Revisited cover

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan · 1965

51 min · 9 tracks · blues · folk rock · jazz

A groundbreaking fusion of rock and folk, filled with vivid imagery and social commentary.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • narrative-driven lyrical exploration
  • biting social commentary emphasis
  • cathartic full-volume sing-alongs
  • reflective road trip ambiance
  • long-form tracks with depth

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer instant gratification tracks
  • dislike lengthy, unfolding narratives

Where this album fits

Themes
Desolation Row surrealism· Highway 61 journey· social critique
Career context
By the time 'Highway 61 Revisited' was released in August 1965, Bob Dylan had transitioned from a folk icon to a rock innovator, following his controversial electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival just weeks prior. This album, his sixth studio release, marked a significant shift in his artistic direction, embracing a full-band sound that influenced countless musicians.
Stylistic neighbors
Leonard Cohen· Neil Young· Johnny Cash
Sounds like this from elsewhere
Music from Big Pink by The Band — Shares a similar blend of Americana and vivid storytelling with a rich, full-band sound.
Astral Weeks by Van Morrison — Explores surreal imagery and emotional depth through a fusion of folk, jazz, and blues elements.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Like a Rolling Stone 6:13
  • 2 Tombstone Blues 5:58
  • 3 It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry 4:09
  • 4 From a Buick 6 3:19
  • 5 Ballad of a Thin Man 5:58
  • 6 Queen Jane Approximately 5:31
  • 7 Highway 61 Revisited 3:30
  • 8 Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues 5:31
  • 9 Desolation Row 11:20

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata